we're looking at $500 billion in cuts to the department of defense. with sequestration, if that happens, that is another $500 billion. we're looking at the smallest army since 1950, the smallest air force ever. that cannot happen. we need to make a commitment to our military. when you have the director of the department of defense, the secretary, saying this is a bullet to the head, this is devastating, he will take whatever he can get. we're at a fiscal cliff, and these cuts to our defense are at the forefront of it. >> your balanced budget amendment will take the sequester and multiply it by at least seven. the cuts that would be imposed -- hearing slogans in support of the veterans, but the amendment will not support it. neither presidential candidate -- 80% have never served in the military, and when it comes to the time when they come home, it matters. >> i thank you for your service to our country. but i believe everyone would make a sound decision, and it would be a hard decision any time we send our young men and women into harm's way, and i w